Somebody please try to convince me that the FO has a plan.

[Coff]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Great post Smoot. It seems alot of people arent happy no matter what the Redskins front office does. We've been hit or miss for many years but lately, we've been hitting alot more than we've been missing. The FO has shown improvement. The FO is showing patience. We appear to be moving in the right direction.

I suppose it's rather unfortunate that the criteria people use to assess the FO is based upon success on the football field.
"People aren't happy no matter what the Redskins front office does" because whatever it does never seems to translate to winning. This decade the Redskins have been one of the least successful teams in the NFL. They've won one lonely playoff game and zero division titles despite grossly outspending every team in the league. Sports is a nasty, results based institution and until the Front Office can show consistent success, rather than consistent failure, people simply will not be happy with anything they do. Inasmuch as we can affect change through public opinion (which, granted, we probably can’t), it is irresponsible for anyone of us to be to be an apologist for the Front Office.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by Coff

I suppose it's rather unfortunate that the criteria people use to assess the FO is based upon success on the football field.
"People aren't happy no matter what the Redskins front office does" because whatever it does never seems to translate to winning. This decade the Redskins have been one of the least successful teams in the NFL. They've won one lonely playoff game and zero division titles despite grossly outspending every team in the league. Sports is a nasty, results based institution and until the Front Office can show consistent success, rather than consistent failure, people simply will not be happy with anything they do. Inasmuch as we can affect change through public opinion (which, granted, we probably can’t), it is irresponsible for anyone of us to be to be an apologist for the Front Office.

Damn fine post. How can you argue w/ wins and losses?

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Coff

I suppose it's rather unfortunate that the criteria people use to assess the FO is based upon success on the football field.
"People aren't happy no matter what the Redskins front office does" because whatever it does never seems to translate to winning. This decade the Redskins have been one of the least successful teams in the NFL. They've won one lonely playoff game and zero division titles despite grossly outspending every team in the league. Sports is a nasty, results based institution and until the Front Office can show consistent success, rather than consistent failure, people simply will not be happy with anything they do. Inasmuch as we can affect change through public opinion (which, granted, we probably can’t), it is irresponsible for anyone of us to be to be an apologist for the Front Office.

judging the current front office and its decisions based on the performance of a prior front office structure is as foolish as judging the redskins now based on what another team does. Not ranting and raving like a lunatic no matter what the front office does is not the same thing as being an apologist.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

judging the current front office and its decisions based on the performance of a prior front office structure is as foolish as judging the redskins now based on what another team does. Not ranting and raving like a lunatic no matter what the front office does is not the same thing as being an apologist.

Good post.

[Coff]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

judging the current front office and its decisions based on the performance of a prior front office structure is as foolish as judging the redskins now based on what another team does. Not ranting and raving like a lunatic no matter what the front office does is not the same thing as being an apologist.

Oh that's right! Cerrato is now the Vice President of Football Operations whereas before he was the Director of Player Personnel. Huge difference; completely different stucture.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Coff

Oh that's right! Cerrato is now the Vice President of Football Operations whereas before he was the Director of Player Personnel. Huge difference; completely different stucture.

Uhhhh... While Gibbs was here, he had final say over everything. Now Cerrato has final say. While Gibbs was here, we traded away draft picks like there was no tomorrow and signed old average-ish veterans to big fat contracts left and right.

So far, Cerrato has only traded one draft pick thats worth anything and he did it for a first ballot hall of famer who was coming off a 16 sack seaason. So far, Cerrato has only signed two players to contracts of any signifigance: 1. Albert Haynesworth, the best DT in the league and arguably the best defensive player Period; and 2. DeAngelo Hall - a playmaking cornerback who has the third most interceptions of any player in the past 5 years, who is only 25 years old and whos best years are ahead of him.

You want to look at things honestly and not just complain for the sake of complaining? Well heres the facts - Cerrato has done better as "GM" in a little over one year on the job than Joe Gibbs did his entire second tenure here. Joe Gibbs traded away picks and mortgaged our future in an effort to win right then. Cerratos philosphy appears to be to build for the draft and make smart FA moves - only giving big longterm contracts to young players who are still on the upside of their careers.

So yeah, to anyone who is paying attention, the title change (and responsibilities that come) is a huge change in structure and we are already reaping the benefits of that change.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Uhhhh... While Gibbs was here, he had final say over everything. Now Cerrato has final say. While Gibbs was here, we traded away draft picks like there was no tomorrow and signed old average-ish veterans to big fat contracts left and right.

So far, Cerrato has only traded one draft pick thats worth anything and he did it for a first ballot hall of famer who was coming off a 16 sack seaason. So far, Cerrato has only signed two players to contracts of any signifigance: 1. Albert Haynesworth, the best DT in the league and arguably the best defensive player Period; and 2. DeAngelo Hall - a playmaking cornerback who has the third most interceptions of any player in the past 5 years, who is only 25 years old and whos best years are ahead of him.

You want to look at things honestly and not just complain for the sake of complaining? Well heres the facts - Cerrato has done better as "GM" in a little over one year on the job than Joe Gibbs did his entire second tenure here. Joe Gibbs traded away picks and mortgaged our future in an effort to win right then. Cerratos philosphy appears to be to build for the draft and make smart FA moves - only giving big longterm contracts to young players who are still on the upside of their careers.

So yeah, to anyone who is paying attention, the title change (and responsibilities that come) is a huge change in structure and we are already reaping the benefits of that change.

Blasphemy and Heresy -- Vinny is the end of the Redskins as we know it, with DS being the architect of their destruction.
/sarcasm]

Excellent Post BHA!

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Uhhhh... While Gibbs was here, he had final say over everything. Now Cerrato has final say. While Gibbs was here, we traded away draft picks like there was no tomorrow and signed old average-ish veterans to big fat contracts left and right.

So far, Cerrato has only traded one draft pick thats worth anything and he did it for a first ballot hall of famer who was coming off a 16 sack seaason. So far, Cerrato has only signed two players to contracts of any signifigance: 1. Albert Haynesworth, the best DT in the league and arguably the best defensive player Period; and 2. DeAngelo Hall - a playmaking cornerback who has the third most interceptions of any player in the past 5 years, who is only 25 years old and whos best years are ahead of him.

You want to look at things honestly and not just complain for the sake of complaining? Well heres the facts - Cerrato has done better as "GM" in a little over one year on the job than Joe Gibbs did his entire second tenure here. Joe Gibbs traded away picks and mortgaged our future in an effort to win right then. Cerratos philosphy appears to be to build for the draft and make smart FA moves - only giving big longterm contracts to young players who are still on the upside of their careers.

So yeah, to anyone who is paying attention, the title change (and responsibilities that come) is a huge change in structure and we are already reaping the benefits of that change.

Great post, I think sometimes people hate the FO so much they forget that Gibbs was involved in making the decision making process when he was here. People need to stop living in the past and try to see a past FO mistake in the moves they've made this year.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Uhhhh... While Gibbs was here, he had final say over everything. Now Cerrato has final say. While Gibbs was here, we traded away draft picks like there was no tomorrow and signed old average-ish veterans to big fat contracts left and right.

So far, Cerrato has only traded one draft pick thats worth anything and he did it for a first ballot hall of famer who was coming off a 16 sack seaason. So far, Cerrato has only signed two players to contracts of any signifigance: 1. Albert Haynesworth, the best DT in the league and arguably the best defensive player Period; and 2. DeAngelo Hall - a playmaking cornerback who has the third most interceptions of any player in the past 5 years, who is only 25 years old and whos best years are ahead of him.

You want to look at things honestly and not just complain for the sake of complaining? Well heres the facts - Cerrato has done better as "GM" in a little over one year on the job than Joe Gibbs did his entire second tenure here. Joe Gibbs traded away picks and mortgaged our future in an effort to win right then. Cerratos philosphy appears to be to build for the draft and make smart FA moves - only giving big longterm contracts to young players who are still on the upside of their careers.

So yeah, to anyone who is paying attention, the title change (and responsibilities that come) is a huge change in structure and we are already reaping the benefits of that change.

You can't say it was just Joe Gibbs making decisions, just like you can't say it was just VC making decisions. I do know VC had a major role in making decisions, he admitted as much. He admitted making a major mistake in the Brandon Lloyd mess and other blunders as well. They all equally sucked as a FO, JG included. JG had to ok everything i'm sure just as DS had to ok everything as well. It was a 3 headed monster.

They had some hits and some big misses too.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by redsk1

You can't say it was just Joe Gibbs making decisions, just like you can't say it was just VC making decisions. I do know VC had a major role in making decisions, he admitted as much. He admitted making a major mistake in the Brandon Lloyd mess and other blunders as well. They all equally sucked as a FO, JG included. JG had to ok everything i'm sure just as DS had to ok everything as well. It was a 3 headed monster.

They had some hits and some big misses too.

True, but everyone here acts as though it was VC alone making all these decisions, and forget that Gibbs was involved.

[Coff]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Uhhhh... While Gibbs was here, he had final say over everything. Now Cerrato has final say. While Gibbs was here, we traded away draft picks like there was no tomorrow and signed old average-ish veterans to big fat contracts left and right.

So far, Cerrato has only traded one draft pick thats worth anything and he did it for a first ballot hall of famer who was coming off a 16 sack seaason. So far, Cerrato has only signed two players to contracts of any signifigance: 1. Albert Haynesworth, the best DT in the league and arguably the best defensive player Period; and 2. DeAngelo Hall - a playmaking cornerback who has the third most interceptions of any player in the past 5 years, who is only 25 years old and whos best years are ahead of him.

You want to look at things honestly and not just complain for the sake of complaining? Well heres the facts - Cerrato has done better as "GM" in a little over one year on the job than Joe Gibbs did his entire second tenure here. Joe Gibbs traded away picks and mortgaged our future in an effort to win right then. Cerratos philosphy appears to be to build for the draft and make smart FA moves - only giving big longterm contracts to young players who are still on the upside of their careers.

So yeah, to anyone who is paying attention, the title change (and responsibilities that come) is a huge change in structure and we are already reaping the benefits of that change.

Okay, I think we're all getting tired of this discussion, but I'll consent. The front office is doing a stellar job and the Redskins have done a fantastic job of maintaining consistency and longevity in the FO. The decade began with Vinny in charge, then vinny was fired and Marty was put in charge, and then Marty was fired and Vinny was put in charge, and then Vinny had to take a back seat when Gibbs came along, and then Gibbs retired and Vinny took his seat back at the throne; all of that in an 9 year span. And all of this disproves the the initial point of this thread which is a criticism of the FO's planning.
Some would argue that the inability to stick to any one plan for more than a couple of seasons in evidence of poor planning, but that would be like comparing the Redskins to another team and wouldn't be a fair analysis of the team's organizational structure.

They're doing a wonderful job. Keep up the good work, FO!

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by Coff

Okay, I think we're all getting tired of this discussion, but I'll consent. The front office is doing a stellar job and the Redskins have done a fantastic job of maintaining consistency and longevity in the FO. The decade began with Vinny in charge, then vinny was fired and Marty was put in charge, and then Marty was fired and Vinny was put in charge, and then Vinny had to take a back seat when Gibbs came along, and then Gibbs retired and Vinny took his seat back at the throne; all of that in an 9 year span. And all of this disproves the the initial point of this thread which is a criticism of the FO's planning.
Some would argue that the inability to stick to any one plan for more than a couple of seasons in evidence of poor planning, but that would be like comparing the Redskins to another team and wouldn't be a fair analysis of the team's organizational structure.

They're doing a wonderful job. Keep up the good work, FO!

See. That wasn't so hard was it?